1957 Dodge Truck - Real-World Classic Trucking

Stephen Owens didn’t grow up with a wrench in his hand. It was the early ’90s when he decided he’d like to try to restore an old truck. Heck, up to that point he’d never even changed the oil in his car. In 2000, while visiting his wife’s family, Stephen discovered her Uncle Bill had a ’57 Dodge pickup in his barn. Stephen asked if he’d sell it, and to his surprise, he agreed. About a month later Stephen quickly began to understand just how big a project he’d started; he didn’t have the tools or skills to do much work to the truck. By complete coincidence, his neighbor at the time had a lot of automotive knowledge and he helped get the engine started and rebuild the brakes. While driving and enjoying the truck was part of his dream, rebuilding it was really what he wanted to do—though he still didn’t have the tools, skills, or money to make it a quick project. Not letting that get in his way, Stephen picked up a small MIG welder and some body tools and began teaching himself how to restore a pickup. While looking for someone to help with the truck’s engine rebuilding, he met Bob Tribe who ended up being instrumental to Stephen’s successful classic truck restoration.

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Stephen said his project would never have been completed without the backing of his family and friends, and thanks his wife, children, and his new friend Bob who supported the project.